2019 report

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Living with HIV

In 2014, UNAIDS established the global 90-90-90 targets.

The aim was for 90% of all people living with HIV to be diagnosed, 90% of those diagnosed to receive HIV treatment and 90% of those receiving treatment to achieve viral suppression, by 2020.

If taken as percentages of all people living with HIV, the 90-90-90 targets translate as 90% of all people living with HIV to be diagnosed, 81% of all people living with HIV are on treatment and 73% of all people living with HIV are virally suppressed.

In 2018, it was estimated that there are 103,800 people living with HIV in the UK. Of these people, 93% are diagnosed, and therefore know that they have HIV. This leaves approximately 1 in 14 people living with HIV in the UK who do not know that they have the virus.

Of the people diagnosed with HIV in the UK, 97% are on treatment, and 97% of those on treatment are virally suppressed which means they can’t pass the virus on. Of all the people living with HIV in the UK, 87% are virally suppressed resulting in the UK meeting, and exceed the UNAIDs 90-90-90 targets for 2020.

On 1 December 2018, World AIDS Day, City Council formally joined Liverpool into the HIV Fast Track Cities Initiative by signing the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities.

“Treatment for HIV is so effective it leads to a completely normal life expectancy and renders individuals un- infectious. The remaining challenge is diagnosing everyone so they can access this treatment. HIV testing is free and completely confidential. Know your status. Get tested.” Dr Mark Lawton Clinical Lead and Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

Mode of transmission of people accessing HIV care in the UK in 2018 93% acquired HIV through sexual transmission 46.2% acquired HIV through heterosexual sex 46.4% acquired HIV through sex between men 1.9% acquired HIV through injecting drug use 2% acquired HIV through vertical transmission from mother to baby, either in the womb, during birth or via breastfeeding The mode of transmission has not been determined for 3.5% people accessing HIV care in 2018.

Source: www.nat.org.uk

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Sahir House Over the past 3 decades Sahir House have been providing care, support and assistance to people living with HIV and their families, as well as delivering HIV prevention, testing and outreach, training and raising public awareness of HIV in .

World AIDS Day (WAD) World AIDS Day is on 1 December each year. It’s an opportunity globally to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died. Many people still don’t know the facts about how to protect themselves from HIV transmission. Stigma and discrimination remain a reality for people living with the condition.

National HIV Testing Week (NHIVTW) National HIV Testing Week commenced the week of 16th November 2019 and aims to raise awareness of the importance of HIV testing, as well as increasing opportunities to test – be it in clinical settings, in primary care or through community-based rapid testing. The ultimate goal is to increase regular HIV testing.

Point of care test (POC test) A point of care test is a rapid HIV test, so rather than sending a blood sample to a laboratory, the test and the results can be delivered in a community setting, without specialised laboratory equipment. The sample taken is usually a finger-prick of blood and results are given at the time of the test.

Merseyside World AIDS Day Planning Group Sahir House coordinates the Merseyside WAD Planning Group consisting of local health and social care professionals. It works collaboratively to organise and deliver a range of campaign activities that help increase awareness, access to testing and reduction in stigma.

If you would like further information and find out more ways to get involved, please contact: Serena Cavanagh Health Promotion Lead Sahir House [email protected] 2nd Floor, 151 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2AH 0151 237 3989 www.sahir.org.uk Report compiled with thanks by Serena Cavanagh for the Merseyside WAD Planning Group.

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#HIVChampions During National HIV Testing Week, Sahir House put a call out asking people to champion HIV testing, to publicly speak out and talk about the importance of knowing your HIV status and encourage people to go and get tested. Champions included doctors, nurses, health workers, comedians, GP’s, tutors, MP’s and a gold medal Paralympian.

Armistead Centre Sefton Sexual Health College North West Youth Focus

Comedian Daliso Chaponda and Andy Grant Liverpool Sexual Health Team gold medal Paralympian

St Helens Sexual Health services supporting #HIVChampions

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Lighting the Town RED 18 of Merseyside’s best-known landmarks were bathed in red light over the weekend of World AIDS Day. By lighting Merseyside red we joined together to raise awareness. Red symbolising the Red Ribbon, a symbol of compassion and support for people living with HIV. We sent out a positive message that as a community we can challenge and remove the stigma that still surrounds HIV and acknowledge the progress around treatment and prevention. See appendix 1

Open Media A company specialising in large-format digital out of home advertising screens, lit up three of the city centre buildings where their screens displayed and promoted HIV testing. The screens were visible to 1000’s of shoppers and public visiting Liverpool City Centre during November.

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World AIDS Day Vigil This year’s World AIDS Day Vigil, with thanks to Liverpool Public Health and the Lord Mayor’s Office, was set in the beautiful Cunard building. An amazing space with an incredible décor to match. We were honored again to display the UK AIDS memorial quilts alongside the Sahir House memorial quilts. The vigil hosted a mix of guest speakers living with HIV, leading doctors and the remembrance list. There was a range of HIV support agencies championing the voice of adults and children living with HIV and the local LGBT inclusive choir.

“As a doctor, the medications available to me to manage HIV have changed beyond all recognition. Some of those who we remember today never had the opportunity to take medication. But perhaps the greatest advance in HIV in recent years is the knowledge that U=U, that if you are living with HIV with an undetectable viral load on treatment you cannot pass HIV on. There is zero risk.” Dr Emily Clarke Consultant in Sexual Health and HIV Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

CHIVA (Children's HIV Association) Life Growing Up film written by young people living with HIV, Please click here to view.

Homotopia collaborated with Many Hands One Heart, Sahir House’s LGBT asylum support group that created banners displaying messages from the group about their life experiences.

“Thanks to everyone at Sahir House for a moving vigil and for bringing us all together once again to bear witness to remember those lost and cheer on everyone living well with HIV” Vigil guest

World AIDS Day vigil

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Sahir House Twitter In the 3-month period Sahir House posted 119 tweets, gained 82 new followers and a reach of 123,000.

Sahir House Facebook As with Twitter and the Sahir House website, the organisation’s Facebook page demonstrated an increase with a maximum reach of 2573 with a 5% increase of followers in the lead up to December 1st.

Sahir House website Traffic doubled during November as more information was uploaded and viewed in the lead up to December 1st enabling viewers to get up to date information, signpost to testing sites and how to get involved in the World AIDS Day campaign activities. All these media platforms increase the opportunity to raise awareness and understanding to groups and individuals who may ordinarily not attend awareness events or wear a red ribbon.

Staff from Arrowe Park HIV Clinic Staff from Wirral Ways to Recovery

Window Display at News from Panel from the Great HIV Debate, Nowhere bookshop Hugh Baird college, Sefton

HIV community nurses Sahir House interview on Talk interview on BBC Radio Merseyside 7

Sahir House HIV awareness and stigma reduction training Staff training provides the opportunity to explore the impact of HIV and update on current thinking. The training increases confidence to promote HIV, educate the wider public and signpost to testing services. The courses help challenge discrimination and highlights the important undetectable equals untransmittable health message. All training includes a positive speaker who talk about their diagnosis, U = U, discrimination, medication and adherence, disclosure and importance of confidentiality. The training service raised nearly £3k during World AIDS Day season. See appendix 2

Comments from course participants: ‘Many thanks for the course yesterday. It was very enjoyable and very informative’ - Registered Manager, Wirral

‘Many thanks for a really enjoyable day! I found the overall delivery, content and presentation very valuable, thank you’ - Occupational Health Advisor, Liverpool

‘Thank you so much for the wonderful and moving training yesterday. I think the experience will stay with me for some time.’ - Housing Officer, Liverpool

‘I want to thank you for including me in the training yesterday. It’s amazing how things have changed, and how surprising the latest information is regarding stats and medication. I particularly enjoyed the positive speaker’s testimony.’ - LGBT Researcher, Liverpool

‘U=U is amazing to know’ - Social Worker, Knowsley

Sahir House WAD and NHIVTW community engagement across Merseyside 2019 18 information stalls at community events reaching 1000’s of people – appendix 3 17 World AIDS Day displays across Merseyside 3 information sessions delivered to a wide range of audiences World AIDS Day information packs circulated widely via e-mail and available on Sahir House website and 19 posted directly to a variety of organisations and businesses A range of online published articles – see appendix 4 BBC Radio Merseyside and Radio City Talk interviews 1000’s of red ribbons disseminated 16 HIV testing pop up clinics offering instant results – appendix 5 World AIDS Day Vigil attended by 200 supporters

Community and Corporate Fundraising World AIDS Day is a great opportunity to raise much needed funds whilst raising awareness of HIV. Sahir House continued to work in partnership with a range of local businesses and groups to expand the reach of the campaign and successfully raised over £5,000. See appendix 6

Thanks and acknowledgements All members of the Merseyside WAD Planning Group All commissioners, funders and donors who sponsored WAD and NHIVTW 2019 Cunard Building, St Bride’s Church, Museum of Liverpool, Homotopia Sahir House positive speakers Sahir House volunteers, trustees and staff team Friends and supporters of Sahir House To everyone who wears their red ribbon with pride, thanks for your continued support

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Partner agencies World AIDS Day and National HIV Testing Week events in Merseyside Liverpool City Council Public Health Event Location Red Ribbon distribution Cunard Building, Liverpool City Centre. Intranet article ‘City lights up red’ to mark World AIDS Liverpool City Council intranet and buildings Day’

The Armistead Centre A free and confidential support, information and sexual health promotion service for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) community. Outreach support for street based sex workers across Liverpool. Event Location 29 education sessions 4 Liverpool college sites 1 information session Barclays Call Centre staff HIV testing video published with over 500 views in 1st 24 hours. Increased impressions on Grindr. 11 university halls of residents notice boards targeted with HIV testing promoted.

Liverpool Specialist HIV Community Nursing Team A community based, citywide service which manages a caseload of patients diagnosed with HIV and living with co morbidities and complex needs who often do not meet criteria for generalist services. Event Location HIV awareness The City of Liverpool College LEX HIV testing The City of Liverpool College LEX Radio interview BBC Radio Merseyside

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), founded in 1898, was the first institution in the world dedicated to research and teaching in the field of tropical medicine. Event Location #HIVChampion Patron - Andy Grant, Paralympic athlete Radio interview BBC Radio Merseyside

St Helens Sexual Health Service Providing free and confidential sexual health, testing, treatment and contraception across St Helens. Event Location HIV awareness St Helens College students HIV awareness St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospital NHS Trust – St Helens hospital staff HIV awareness St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospital NHS Trust - Whiston hospital staff The social campaign videos watched 1261 times, totalling 200 minutes of viewing. Twitter 26.4K impressions 15 re-tweets; profile page viewed 57 times; Facebook reached 1193 people, gained 438 engagements and 4 new followers and Instagram 4582 interactions. Gained 36 new likes during this time.

Sefton Sexual Health Service Providing free and confidential sexual health, testing, treatment and contraception across Sefton. Event Location Student debate x 2 Hugh Baird College student and staff event The Great HIV Debate was a team of experts for students to ask questions. Experts included HIV consultant, HIV specialist nurse, Renaissance Outreach and Sahir House positive speaker.

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Wirral clinic, outreach and postal Providing free and confidential sexual health, testing, treatment and contraception in Wirral. Event Location HIV awareness stall Wirral University Teaching Hospital – Arrowe Park Hospital Averaging 450 HIV tests Wirral Sexual Health - clinic, outreach and postal per month

Appendix 1 Lighting the Town RED buildings 1. St Georges Hall 2. The Cunard Building 3. Liverpool Town Hall 4. Bootle Town Hall 5. Liverpool Central Library 6. University of Liverpool Active Learning Lab 7. St Brides Church 8. The City of Liverpool College 9. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 10. Knowsley Bridge over M62/Greystone Road 11. M & S Bank Arena 12. Liverpool One shopping area 13. World Museum, Liverpool Museums 14. Merseyside Police HQ 15. 16. Open Media Screen, Victoria Street, Liverpool City Centre 17. Open Media Screen, Lord Street, Liverpool City Centre 18. Open Media Screen, Church Street, Liverpool City Centre

Appendix 2 Sahir House Training Service Trainee dental nurses HIV awareness & stigma reduction L’Arche – community independent living service Equality & Diversity Knowsley GPs HIV in GP settings Wirral Public Health commissioned course – HIV awareness & stigma reduction health and social care professionals Knowsley Public Health commissioned course – HIV awareness & stigma reduction health and social care professionals Liverpool Public Health commissioned course – HIV awareness & stigma reduction health and social care professionals Merseyside Police HIV awareness & stigma reduction Knowsley Practice Nurse Forum HIV in primary care settings

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Appendix 3 Community stalls and events Organisation Target audience Borough Sahir House Vigil and quilt exhibition, Cunard Building General public Mersey wide West Kirby Grammar School for Girls, 2 info sessions 173 students, yr 11 Wirral Wallasey Musical Theatre, info session Cast of RENT Wirral Gladstone Theatre, RENT performance x 4 nights General public Wirral Tomorrows Women Wirral event Women only Wirral Arrowe Park Hospital, awareness stall General public Wirral VideOdyssey studio, Grin Theatre General public Liverpool Tate Liverpool, Keith Haring & Amy Lame event General public Liverpool Liverpool Parish Church, evening with Peter Tatchell General public Liverpool Liverpool Central Library Heritage event General public Liverpool Royal Liverpool Hospital, student nurse lecture Student nurses Liverpool News From Nowhere book shop, window display General public Liverpool Royal Liverpool Hospital, awareness stall General public Liverpool Liverpool Central Train Station, awareness stall General public Liverpool Convoy of Hope Health Day, Newsham Park General public Liverpool King George V College, Great HIV Debate 90 students Sefton Hugh Baird college, Great HIV Debate 100 students Sefton The Studio, Masquerade play, 2 nights General public St Helens

Appendix 4 Published online articles https://preview.tinyurl.com/tex8p2x https://www.haltonsthelensvca.org.uk/lighting-town-red-world-aids-day https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2019-11-30/world-aids-day-being-marked-on-merseyside/ https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/news-events/news/lstm-lights-up-red-for-world-aids-day https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/events/displayevent.aspx?EventId=41582 https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/about-us/news/national-hiv-testing-week/ https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/news/articles/2019/11/28/world-aids-day--1st-december-2019 https://mysefton.co.uk/2019/11/29/lighting-sefton-red-this-world-aids-day/ https://liverpoolexpress.co.uk/city-lights-up-red-to-mark-world-aids-day/

Appendix 5 Additional community based HIV testing pop up clinics Location Borough Sahir House Liverpool YPAS Liverpool The City of Liverpool College Liverpool Hartington Road Health Centre Liverpool Asylum Link Liverpool Barclays Call Centre Liverpool St Bride’s Church Liverpool Museum of Liverpool Liverpool Armistead Centre Liverpool Various Hostels x 4 Merseyside Tomorrows Women Wirral Wirral Townhouse Wirral 11

Appendix 6 Community and Corporate Fundraising Event Amount The Vivienne Jag Race, Attitude Magazine, donation £2,000.00 Merseyrail, Liverpool Central Train Station collection £783.84 Rob Little & Laura Lees, theatre performance collection £500.00 Infected Blood Inquiry donation £500.00 Kitty’s Showbar 2 fundraising events £410.00 Individual donations £353.75 Spectrum LGBT Network (Home Office) ribbon sale £295.00 Collection tins, general £179.16 Riverside Truck Rental wear red day £145.00 Unite NW 522 Not for Profit Branch donation £100.00 Regular donors, online website donation £75.00 The Lisbon Pub collection £74.04 Unite NW 413 Ellesmere Port Branch donation £50.00 Unite NW 0176 Burnley Branch donation £50.00 Unison Merseyside Police Civilian Branch donation £50.00 Child Maintenance Service dress down day £40.00

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